1900-1930

1 – why did film makers and producters move to hollywood?

to avoid Thomas Edison’s film laws

2 – two actors and directors/producers from the silent era:

actors: Charlie Chaplin – known for The Kid, Modern Times and his character of The Tramp

King Baggot – known for Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Ivanhoe and he was also a director for movies such as Tumbleweeds and The Home Maker.

directors:

Buster Keaton – known for The General, Seven Chances and was also an actor.

Sergei Eisenstein – known for Battleship Potemkin, Alexander Nevsky and Strike.

pictures: The general and battleship Potemkin

3 – in what ways were the early Hollywood studio system like a factory or production lines? or football teams?

the main roles of the film making process where split up into many different roles so multiple projects could be being made at the same time. if actors where not doing well, they could have their contract cut short

4- When and what was the first ‘talking picture’?

the jazz singer – 1927

5 – why did the end of the silent era cause problems for some performers in the film industry?

their voices (funny or thick accent)

6 – what was happening at the time in America?

world war one 1914, wall street crash 1929, great depression 1929

The golden age of Hollywood 1930-47:

1 – what where the big 5 studios and what movies did they made

MGM – Wizard of Oz

Paramount – Shanghai Express

RKO – Bringing up Baby

20th Century FOX – How Green Was My Valley

Warner Brothers – Footlight Parade

2 – Vertical Integration: where one company would own every aspect of the film’s production (the making, advertising, distribution and exhibition)

Block booking: ensuring that seats will be filled (the act of owning the theaters as well as the movies themselves)

3- why and when did the original studio system collapse?

1948 – united states versus Paramount Pictures.

this case argued that by owning all aspects of production, it was ruining competition.

4- what was happened in america at the time

the great depression/wall street crash

5- what genres where popular at the time? and why would people go to the movies in this time period?

musicals, westerns and gangster movies. people would go as a form of escapism, because of how bad their lives where outside of the movies.

Classical Hollywood Style

Invisible Style of Storytelling- making the editing style of the movie not noticeable by the audience to keep them immersed in the movie. focused on the Plot and Character development, it is told Chronologically.

Continuity Editing- blending multiple camera shots together to create a consistent and cohesive narrative.